Building construction



Sept. 10, 1935. A. c. OLSEN ,7

' BUILDING CONSTRUCTION I Original Filed Dec. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1dttozueq Sept. 10, 1935 A. COLSEN 2,013,762

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Dec. 9, 1929 2 SheetsShet 2 7 I1.4:? U 37' J Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES BUILDINGCONSTRUCTION Y Y Anders C. Olsen, Garden City, N. Y., assignor to A. 0.Olsen, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationDecember 9, 1929, Serial No. 412,833

' Renewed October 1, 1934 l 11 Claims.

'This invention relates to building constructions and more specificallyto ceiling or wall structures and means for installing the same.

Among the objects of this invention is the pro- 5 vision of an improvedmetallic supporting means for the ceiling or wall plates or panels whichmay also be metallic or may be formed of plasterboard, tile, glass, orother non-metallic materials. This supporting means comprises attaching10 strips for the margins of the panels and hanger units of novelconformationtogether with improved means for connecting them with eachother and with the framing structure of the room.

Another object is to provide means for bracing 15 the hanger units orsuspending elements in spaced positions.

A further object is to provide means for supporting ceiling plates ofglass or other frangible material in such a manner as to protect themfrom breakage and prevent the chipping of their edges which they mightsufi'er by being held in direct contact with the metal spacing andsupporting strips.

Further objects and features of novelty will be apparent from thefollowing detailed descrip- "tion and from the accompanying drawings inwhich several embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way ofexample;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of the 30 over ead structure of aroom showing a partiall installed ceiling embodying the principles ofthis invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1; v

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modification in whichan arched ceiling structure is employed. Figure 4 is a detail viewshowing the application of the bracing members to the hangers; 40 Figure5 is a detail view of thelower end of one form of hanger;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a ceiling construction inwhich another form of hanger is used, showing means for connecting the45 upper end of this hanger to the overhead structure of a room;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1'! of Figure 6;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are detail views of several 50 moddifications ofhanger and strip constructions;

an I

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the installation of-glasspanels or plates within the supporting strip.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6, the numeral l0 denotes the joists orbeams forming part of the overhead framing structure of the interior vof a room. These joists are usually arranged parallel to each other asshown in Figured and the sponding to the width of panel to be used arethe hanger units II which are attached to these 10 members by means ofnails or other fastening means I2.

The ceiling. structure which is adapted to be supported from the lowerends of these hanger units ll comprises the panel supporting strip 15designated generally by the numeral l3 and the panels M. In theembodiments of theinvention shown in Figures 2, 3, 6, 7 and 11 each 0tthese strips has a body portion l5 substantially rectangular incross-section with the upper side divided along the center line to forma longitudinal slot [6 running from end to end'of the strip. This slot[6 is formed with'vertically extending parallel walls HQ which flareoutwardly at the top to form horizontal flanges I8. On each side ofthese supporting strips l3 there is formed between the flanges l8 andthe top of the box-like body portion IS; the grooves l9 which areadapted to receive the edges of the panels M, the width of these groovesbeing predetermined according to the thickness of the panels to beemployed. These panels l4 may be. formed of wall-board, plaster-board,sheet metal, glass or any other material suitable for forming anornamental and protective covering for the walls or ceiling of a room.

As shown in the drawings the hangers II comprise flat metal strips whichhave their lower ends pointed and provided with barbs as at 20. Thestrips l3 are fabricated of thin sheet metal and the body portions l5thereof are resilient so that when a strip is presented to the pointedhead of a hanger with the points thereof vertically above the slot I6,and the strip is pressedupwardly, the walls of strip will yield orspring outwardly, permitting the slot to widen until the edges thereofextend over and around the lateral points or barbs of the head of thehanger, whereuponthe strip will snap into locking engagement with thehead of the hanger as shown in Figure 2 'of the drawings.

In applying this suspended ceiling construction to the wooden ceilingbeams or other overhead structures of a room, the hangers are nailed tothe beam in parallel longitudinal rows which 5;; 1

are equally spaced across the room, the outer rows being spaced from thesides of the room as at 2| a sufficient distance to provide for themounting of a cornice as indicated in Figures 1 and 3.

When the' hangers have been thus mounted,

two longitudinal stripsections a and b are .snapped into position overand interlocked with the heads of the series of hangers at one side andcorner of the room.

The opposite edges of the first panel 0 are then inserted in the innergrooves I9 of the strips a and b and the panel is slid into its correctposition near the end of the strip. Next there is inserted a cross strip22 which has a similar cross section to the longitudinal strip I 3 butmay be provided with projecting flanges at its ends, which are adaptedto enter the groove IQ for the purpose ofsupporting the cross strip.Panels and cross strips are then alternately slid into position betweenthe longitudinal strips a and b until the row is completed. Then anotherlongitudinal strip d is snapped into position over the end of the nextrow of hangers and another series of panels and cross strips insertedbetween the strips b and 12. Additional rows of panels are built up inthe same manner until the ceiling is complete. To prevent swinging ofthe hangers II and consequent disalignment of individual hangers andalso to I prevent the possible spreading of the attached supportingstrips l3 and displacement of the intervening row of panels, there areprovided the brace bars 24 which are adapted to space and rigidify theseries of hangers attached to one of the beams l0. These brace bars 24comprise flat metal strips with hooked ends 25 which are adapted toembrace the lower ends of the hangers I! just above the head thereof.These hooked ends may either loosely surround the hangers II or the ends26 of the hook may be. bent inwardly toward the body portion of thebrace bars 24 so thatthey must be forced apart by the insertion of thehangers I l, and so that they will embrace the hangers H withconsiderable spring pressure. This bracing means is particularly usefulin connection with a low-hung ceiling employing unusually long hangerunits II or in connection with an arched ceiling in which long hangerunits must be used near the sides of the arch, as shown in Figure 3.

In Figure 5, there is shown a modified form of hanger unit in which thehead 20 is given a slight twist out of the plane of the body portion ofthe hanger. This form of hanger unit is made of resilient sheet metaland is adapted for use with either a resilient panel supporting strip orunit to be further twisted until the shoulders 29 clear the inner endsof the slot walls I1 and the head 20 snaps back into its initialposition. Of course, in cases where this type of hanger unit is employedin connection, with a resilient panel supporting strip, a resiliency ofboth of these membersmay be taken advantage, of in attaching the stripto the hanger unit.

In Figures 6 and 7, there is illustrated a ceiling supporting deviceparticularly adapted to supporting a new ceiling of the built-up typefrom an old ceiling designated by the numeral 30.

erably, though not necessarily, rigid and are each I The panelsupporting strip at the lower end of the hanger unit may be of anydesired type in this embodiment, and the cooperating lower portion ofthe hanger unit will naturally be modified to-correspond thereto, butthe hanger unit 3| is preferably given a 90 twist around its verticalaxis and is provided with a T-head 32. For suspending each of thesehanger units 3| from the old ceiling 30, there are provided socketmembers 33 which are attached to the ceiling by 10 means of the nails orscrews 34 which pass through the marginal flanges 35. The socket member33 is provided with a raised center portion 36 which is provided at itsapex with a slot 31 the length of which'is sufficient to permit the 5insertion of the head'of the hanger member 3| from the upper side of thesocket member 33, the hanger member 3| being rotated through an angle of90 as it is being inserted in the slot 31.

For use in supporting panels made of glass or 20 other frangiblematerial, the arrangement shown in Fig. 11 may be used. In thisconstruction the walls of the grooves I9 are preferably rigid althoughthe box-like portion l5 of the strip may be made resilient so that thewalls of 5 the slot l6 may be spread apart for the insertion of the headof a hanger unit. The slots l9 are made slightly wider than thethickness of the panels to be employed and a cushioning strip 38, madeof felt, rubber or other suitablema- 30 terial, is inserted between thewalls of the grooves l9 and the edges of the panel. Thiscushioning strip3B'may be cemented to the walls of the groove I9 or to the edges of thepanel before the panels and strips are assembled, or it may be wedgedand compressed in the groove by the edge of the panel by making theclearance between the walls of the groove and the panel less than thethickness of the cushioning strip 38. These strips 38 are inserted inthe corresponding grooves l 9 of the cross strip 22 also. In lieu of thenon-metallic cushioning strip 38, flat laterally or longitudinallycorrugated leaf springs may be inserted in the grooves IS in positionsto bear against the upper or lower surfaces of the panel edges I or bothof them. If desired, similar springs may also be disposed along thebottoms of the grooves to engage the sides of the panels.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 there are illustrated alternative forms of theinvention in which the hanger units are provided with slots into whichportions of the panel supporting strip are adapted to be inserted.

In Figs. 8 and 9, the hanger units 40 are prefprovided at its lower endwith a triangular opening 4 l between bifurcations 42. Inwardly directedprojections 43 extend from bifurcations 42 and provide horizontalshoulders 44 and upwardly converging surfaces 45. The panel supportingstrip 46 shown in Figure 8 comprises the hollow box-like portion 41which is laterally provided with grooves for the insertion of the edgesof panels l4. The upper surfaces of the strip are slotted as at 49 andprovided with upstanding flanges 50, the edges of which are turnedoutwardly and downwardly as at 5l--in general con.- formity with thediverging walls of the triangular opening 4| of the hanger unit. Inapplying this strip 46 to the hanger unit 40, the upstanding portioncomprising flanges 50 and 5| is inserted between the faces 45 of the.inwardly projecting portions 43, and thestrip 4B is forced upwardlyuntil the edges of flanges 5| snap past the ends of the faces 45 andrest upon the shoulders 44 as shown. I i

In Figure 9, the panel supporting strip 52 is not slotted in its uppersurface but is formed with a longitudinal upstanding portion 53 thecross section of which is shaped like'an arrowhead, being provided withinclined surfaces 54 and horizontal shoulders 55. The bottom surface ofthe panel supporting strip 52 is longitudinally divided and providedwith overlapping edges 55 and it will be readily seen that the body ofthe strip 52 may be laterally compressed so that the portion 53 mayenter the triangular opening 4| in the lower end of the hanger strip 40and the shoulders 55 may spring past the diverging faces 45 and come torest upon the shoulders 44 of the hanger unit. In Figure 10 the hangerunit 51 is similar to the unit 45 except that it must be constructed ofresilient material and be provided with a centrally located considerablyelongated opening 58.

In this embodiment, the bifurcations 42, the inwardly projectingportions 43, the shoulders 44 and the faces 45 are similar to thecorresponding elements of the hanger unit shown in: Figures 8 and 9. Inthis construction, the panel supporting strip 59 is preferably providedwith an unbroken continuous wall and has riveted to the upper surfacethereof the supplemental attaching strip 60 which is provided with theupwardly projecting wedge-shaped head having shoulders 52; Inthis casethe hanger unit 51 is resilient and the bifurcations 42 are adapted tobe spread apart when the head 5| of the attaching strip 50 is insertedbetween the surfaces 45 and when the shoulders 44 of the hangerunitclear the ends of the diverging surfaces of the head 5| they will snapover these ends and contact with the shoulders 52 of the attaching strip50.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in theembodiments illustrated and described herein and still be within thescope of the present invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a ceiling construction,. in combination, a supporting structure, aplurality of metallic hangers secured thereto, a metal strip supportedby said hangers and provided on its sides with strip, said hangershaving pointed ends with lateral shoulders or ledges, whereby said stripis adapted to be mounted on the hangers by entering the points of thelatter in said slot and then forcing said strip upward until the topwalls of said body portion snap over onto said ledges.

2. In a ceiling construction, in'combination, a

supporting structure, a plurality of metallic hangi ers secured thereto,a metal strip supported by until the top walls of. the body portionsthereof snap over into said ledges, said strip being'also tallic ceilingconsisting of a flexible flat metal strip having means at one endthereof adapted to engages. portion of said ceiling, said unit be- 10ing twisted through an angle of less than 90 about its longitudinalaxis, whereby guiding the hanger into proper engagement with the ceilingis facilitated.

4. A hanger unit for use in supporting a me tallic ceiling, consistingof a flexible flat metal striphaving one end provided with a point atits extremity and horizontal-lateral shoulders with inclined surfacesbetween the edgesof said shoulders and said point, said ends beinghorizontally twisted away from the vertical plane of the remainder ofthe-hanger.

5. In a'ceiling construction, a supporting structure, a protective andornamental covering structure, comprising panels and supporting strips,

said supporting strips being formed of sheetmetal and having a slotformed in the upper surface thereof for connecting said strip to saidsupporting structure, a plurality of hangers compriseends with lateralshoulders or ledges, said ends occupying a vertical plane which makes anacute angle with the vertical 1he through the walls of said slots, saidstrip being adapted to be mounting strips of resilient sheet metalhaving pointed ed on said hangers by'introducing the points of thelatter into said slots, and forcing the strip upward whereby saidresilient hanger is resiliently twisted until the shoulders of saidhanger clear the edges of the slot in said strip, when said hanger snapsback into its original form. 40

6. In a ceiling construction, a supporting structure, a protectiveornamental covering structure comprising panels and supporting strips,said supporting strips being formed of resilient sheet metal of box-likeform and having a slot in the top wall thereof, a plurality of hangersfor connecting said strips to said supporting structure, consisting of aflexible fiat metal strip having one end provided with a point at itsextremity and horizontal lateral shoulders with inclined surfacesbetween the edges of the shoulders and said point, the ends of saidhangers being-initially permanently twisted so that when introduced intosaid slot a line joining the points of contact of for each hanger isoblique with respect to the edges of said slot, whereby the edges ofsaid slot are adapted to be sprung apart and said hanger to be furtherand resiliently twisted when said said inclined surfaces and the edgesof said slot strip is forced upward until the inner top wall of thestrip and the shoulders of the hanger snap into engagement, and thestrip and hanger resume their initial conformation. 7. In. a ceilingconstruction, an overhead supporting structure, a bracket securedthereto and provided with a socket having a 'slot therein, a

hanger unit depending from said bracket and extending through said slot,said hanger unit being provided with an enlarged upper end which isadapted to be received within said socket, the lower end of said.bracket being adapted to sup-- port a suspended covering structure.

8. In a ceiling construction, in combination,

a hanger unit provided with a bifurcated lower 'between saidbifurcations and rest upon said shoulders or ledges.

9. In a celing construction, in combination, a hanger unit provided witha pair of depending legs at its lower end, inwardly projecting portionson said legs providing spaced shoulders or ledges, a panel supportingstrip of hollow box-like construction, having a portion provided withshoulders adapted to rest upon said first mentioned shoulders orledges,.the side walls of said strip adapted to be pressed inwardlytoward each other whereby said shouldered portion may pass between theinwardly projecting portion of said legs and whereby said walls mayspring outwardly so that the shoulders of said strip are supported uponthe shoulders ofsaid hanger unit.

10. In a ceiling construction, in combination, a panelsupportingstrip'provided with an upwardly projecting portion which is arrowheadedin crosssection, a hanger unit having a bifurcated lower end providing apair of resilient depending legs, inwardly projecting portions on saidlegs the upper surfaces of which provide spaced shoulders or ledges, theinner surfaces of which are downwardly divergent to facilitate entry ofsaid upwardly projecting portion of said strip.

11. In a ceiling construction, in combination, an overhead supportingstructure, a suspended covering structure, a hanger strip secured tosaid supporting structure, said hanger strip having depending mutuallyfacing resilient portions provided with inwardly directed horizontalledges, upstanding portions on said covering structure provided Withlaterally, outwardly projecting portions forming wedging surfaces andshoulders, said upstanding portions adapted to be wedgingly insertedbetween said dependent resilient portions of the hanger strip, and saidshoulders and ledges adapt-ed to snap past each other during applicationof said suspended covering structure, and to rest in mutual engagementin the final applied position of said covering structure.

\ ANDERS C. OLSEN.

